Pocket tape



R. J. SIMPSON.

.POCKET TAPE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5, 1921.

a m r0 m a w n W a 0 m d P e R. J. SIMPSON.

POCKET TAPE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 5. 1921.

1,41 5,489, Patented May 9, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ROBERT J. SIMPSON, OF ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS.

I POCKET TAPE.

Application filed November 5, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. SIMPsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Athol, in the county of Worcester, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Tapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pocket tape measure construction and the like, and particularly to a'tape embodying certain features of construction by which great serviceability coupled with economy in manufacture is obtained. .Pocket tapesof the character described usually comprise a shallow cylindrical casing in which is lodged a flexible tape wound on a spring drum controlled by a releasable ratchet. The casings of these tapes have to be strong and light and as the article is one intended for personal use, refinements in appearance and construction and finish are of considerable importance.

One characteristic defect of the ordinary pocket tape measure has been the tendency of the members ofthe two-part casingto turn relative to each other with resultant liability of cutting or otherwise mutilating the tape at the delivery opening of the easmg.

To the end therefore of providing a tape measure which will embody the abovenamed features of advantage and will not be 'open to the objection stated, I have devised my present invention. In it the members of the two part casing are anchored against relative movement by a retainer which substantially encircles the case and in provided at its opposed edges with continuous channels within which the meeting edges of the casing members are adapted to frictionally lodge. In addition to its retaining function, the channeled anchoring element assures accurate alignment of the casing parts without the necessity of soldering, and stifi'ens the casing as well as providing a neat and smooth finish at this portion of the casing.

By my invention, I am thus able to pro-- duce a pocket tape measure of durable construction; and neat finish at a. very moderate manufacturing cost.

As illustrative of my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings a pocket tape in accordance with my invention. Throughout the specification and Specification of Letters Patent.

' .Patented m 9, 1922. Serial No. 513,142.

drawings like reference characters are employed to indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings F ig. 1 is a top view of a tape in accordance with my invention.

' Fig. 2 an edge view of the shell.

Fig. 3 a section through the center of the shell with the central post left partly in elevation. i

Fig. 4 is a'view of the inner face of one shell. 1 Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other shell.

F 6 is an edge view of the channel ring.

F g. 7 a section fragment of the same.

F 1g. 8 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view with the upper casing member of the two-part casing remoived to expose the underlying tape drum, an

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the push button, removed. "1'

The pocket tape shown in the ing drawing comprises a pair of easing members 1 and 2. These are shallow cupshaped members of sheet metal of the same diameter so that their edges 1 and 2 may be brought into registry. The member 2 has centrally of its inner face a hollow post 3 which is riveted into the casing as shown in accompany- Fig. 3. The post 3 is slotted as at 4 to act as a guide for the arms 5 of a push button 5 which is guided in the central bore 3 of the post 3 and is backed by a coil spring 12 seated within said bore. The post 3 is also slotted as at 3 to receive the end of the motor spring 6 which is coiled within the drum 7. This drum 7 is an open ended shell as appears in Fig. 3 and on it is wound a tape 8 the end being caught in the shell as indicated at 8 i p The upper end of the post 3 is tapped to receive a screw 9 which passes through the central portion of the shell 1 thus drawing the two shells together. Thecoil spring 12 abuts this screw, as appears in Fig. 3. Between theshells 1 and 2 I interpose a ring 10. This spring while not constitutinga complete circle is. v ery nearly so, being only less than a. full circle by the amount of the width of the slots 11 which constitute the delivery is drawn. The ring 10 is channeled at both edges at 10 to receive the opposed edges of the shells 1 and'2. This assures the align openingthrough which the tape 8' ment of the shells and permits them to be drawn up snugly together while at the same time affording a reinforcement and a smooth finishing surface to the shell edges.

In-assembling the casing or drum member 7 with its motor spring 6 is slipped over the post 3. The push button 5 is then dropped into the axial bore of the post with the arms 5 bearing on the cam surfaces 7 which are struck up from the metal of the easing. The spring 12 is then inserted in the post and the ring 10 laid on the upper edge of the shell 2. The shell '1 is then'centered on'the ring 10, its lower edge being lodged in the upper groove 10 The screw 9 it then turned up and the shells forced tightly together.

Tapes so constructed are simple and capable of being readily made and quickly assembled. By reason of the ring, the shells may be set tightly together and drawn up so that the wall of the casing 1 will have proper light bearing on the struck up portion- 7 of the drum shell so that the shell is kept in its proper position on the post 3 while being permitted to freely rotate under the action of its own motor spring or when the tape is drawn off.

1 Various modifications in details of structure may obviously be resorted to if within the limits of the appended claims. 7

\Vhat I therefore claim and desire to se cure by Letters Patent is 1. -In a pocket tape, a casing comprising a pair of shells, a central post on one shell, a rotatable tape spool on said post, and an interposed strip of greater width than the thickness of the shell edges and channelled to receive the shell edges, and a screw engaging said central post and passing through the other shell for drawing the shells together with their edges lodged in said channels.

2. In a pocket tape having a flexible tape member and spooling means for winding the same, a casing comprising apair of shells,

'each having a correspondingly notched edge,

and a strip of greater width than the thickness of the shell edges and channeled to receive the edges, and extending between the shell edges entirely around the shell from the edges of said notches, and means for drawing the shells together with their edges lodged in said channels.

3. In a pocket tape, a casing .icomprising a pair of shells and an interposed strip of greater width than the thickness of the shell edges and channelled to receive the shell edges, and means for drawing the shells together with their edges lodged in said channels.

In testimony whereof ture in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT J SIMPSON.

Witnesses JAMES C. NICHOLLS, ARTHUR H. STANETT.

I affix my signaa 

